Portable folding boat



No. 624,375. Patented May 2, I899. J. OSMOND.

PORTABLE FOLDING BOAT.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Shasta-Sheet l.

IN VENTOH mm w Patented May 2, [899.

,1. usmoun. PORTABLE FOLDING BOAT.

(Applicafiion filed Dec. 18, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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THE mmms PETERS 0o. PnoTourHa. wnsumsrou. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN OSMOND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE FOLDING BOAT.

SPEGIFiCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,375, dated May 2, 1899,

Application filed December 13, 1898. Serial No. 699,141. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OSMOND, of Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Portable Folding Boat, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved portable folding boat which is simple and durable in construction, more especially designed for the use of travelers, hunters, fishermen, prospectors, campers, and other persons, and arranged to fold into a comparatively small space forconvenient transportation overland and to permit of readily and quickly extending it when it is desired to use it as a boat for its legitimate purpose.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claim.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side'elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the same partly folded. Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, with part in section,of a portion of one of the oars; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the oar-blades.

The improved portable folding boat is provided with two middle sections A and B, connected with each other by hinges O at adjacent ends and at the top thereof to permit of swinging one section upward upon the other section, so as to use the former section as a cover for the latter section. The boat is further provided with peak=shaped end sections D D, removably attached to the outer ends of the sections A and B, respectively, as hereinafter more, fully described.

Each of the middle sections A and B is provided with a skeleton frame E, having solid ends E and a covering E preferably of sheet metal, for the said skeleton frame and the solid ends, the tops of the sections being'open,

as is plainly indicated in the drawings. The end sections D D are each provided with a skeleton frame E having a solid cross-piece E at the inner end anda covering E for the said skeleton frame and the cross-piece, the covering also extending over the top to form of each section an air-chamber to increase the buoyancy of the boat .When in use and to afford a storage-compartment for provisions and other matter when the device is not in use, and the said sections are set in one of the middle sections A and closed therein by the other section, forming a cover for the bottom section. (See Fig. 3.)

Each of the end sections D and D is provided on top with a manhole F, the cover of which is secured to a chain F, attached to the top of the section, so that the cover can be readily removed from the opening without becoming detached from the section. When the cover is removed, access is had to the in= side of the respective section.

In order to fasten the sections A and B to gether when extended, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide bolts G, passing through theadjacent inner ends E of the sections and the metal covering for the said ends, the bolts being provided with suitable rubber Washers or the like to prevent leakage at the openings for the bolts. The outer ends of the sections A and B are connected by bolts G G respectively,.with the end sections D D by passing the bolts through the outer ends of the middle sections and through the linings and the cross-piece E, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2. Thus when the four sections are bolted together a complete boat is formed having pointed ends and airchambers for increasing the buoyancy of the boat In the middle sections A and B are arranged seats H, each pivotally connected at its under side and near the ends thereof with a brace 11, pivoted to the corresponding ends of the sections, and hooks H are arranged at the rear ends of the seats for engaging eyes or staples H secured to the ends of the sections near the upper edges thereof, so that the seats when extended are securely held in place in a horizontal position to accommodate the persons making use of the boat.

In order to propel the boat, I provide cars I, each having a sleeve 1, to which is pivoted a rowlock 1 adapted to engage a bearing J on the gunwale of the boat, and in each sleeve 1 is inserted the shank of ablade I and also a handle I to complete the oar, the blade and handle being removable from the sleeve to permit of conveniently storing the oar in the bottom of the section A when the boat is folded for transportation from one place to another. -On the sides of the sections A and B are formed handles K, adapted to be taken hold of by two persons to conveniently carry the boat overland from one place to another.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the boat is very simple and durable in construction, is not liable to leak, as it is properly covered with metal, and the several sections can be readily fastened together by the use of the bolts G G G or disconnected from each other to permit of placing the end sections D D into one of the middle sections A, and then swinging the other section B by its hinges 0 upon the first section to form a box which can be readily moved from one place/to another.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A folding boat having two middle sections provided with hinges at their contiguous inner middle edges, by which the middle sections are permanently hinged to each other to swing apart into operative position, or to swing into folded position with the one over the other to form a cover therefor,and detachable end sections provided Withmeans for joining them to the respective outer ends of the middle sections,the end sections being capable of fitting within and being covered by the middle sections when folded.

JOHN OSMOND.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. BOY,

THOMAS W. FILEK. 

